JOHN BARNES believes his former Liverpool team-mate Ian Rush would make a successful Wales manager.

With Mark Hughes having opted to trade in international football for the challenge of leading Blackburn in the Barclays Premiership, the Football Association of Wales are beginning their search for a new manager.

Rush is still in the embryonic stages of his management career, having been appointed manager of Chester City barely a fortnight ago. But Barnes believes that the 43-year-old would command the instant respect of the Welsh team, if appointed, purely because of his successful playing career.

"He'll bring a lot of experience to international football, he played at international level and has the added benefit of having played with most of the players in the squad," Barnes explained.

"Like Mark Hughes, the players will instantly respect him because they have played with him and they know what a great player he was." Though Rush's own experience of management is limited, he will be able to draw on the managerial styles of some of Europe's most successful coaches who he played under. He has also diligently pursued his coaching qualifications and turned the Welsh under-17s team into a competitive unit.

"Ian Rush is one of the most qualified coaches in England in terms of the qualifications that he has got. He's also been coaching for a while with Liverpool and the Welsh U17 team," said Barnes.. "He's had the chance to learn from a lot of great managers like (Giovanni) Trapattoni when he was at Juventus, and Bob Paisley and Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool."

Barnes concedes that Rush will have to overcome some stiff opposition if he is to acquire the role, with Sir Bobby Robson the early favourite.

"A lot of people will want the job and the supposed candidates have had a lot of success," he added. "Everybody will bring different qualities: John Toshack managed Real Madrid, Bryan Flynn has been a manager for a long time and Bobby Robson has a lot of experience."